Glen Garioch 1990 Artist #7 Over 25 yo

 

 

 

52,3°

Distillery : Glen Garioch - Highlands

American Oak Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

A friend generously introduced me to this one, it was a bottle he’d been saving for a special occasion, and that occasion finally arrived in the form of a promotion. As this distillery uses the majority of its production for blends, even independent bottlings are not that common, and this one, which has been aged for at least 26 years in a single Hogshead, promises to reveal the very essence of the spirit. Only 180 bottles were drawn from the cask. The label features a work of art by Lino Di Vinci.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A superb burst of fruit, bananas, mandarins, mirabelles, Reine-Claude, a dash of vanilla, grapefruit and lime. Mineral depth, delicate limestone, a subtle pinch of salt. Tension between bitter oranges and dried mango, underpinned by rustic oak and earthy, vegetable-like notes, courgette flower fritters, aubergine caviar. It finishes with floral touches that enhance the whole. On the palate, it is mellow, supple, oily, lovely viscosity, though the flavours are more understated, the citrus notes are more prominent, candied lemon peel, orange zest, light spices. Very long finish, dried fruit, shortbread biscuits, green apples, a hint of pear, crunchy nuts, rich herbs.

 

In Short, 

This really is the perfect expression to discover this distillery. Firstly, it’s of a very high quality, and secondly, all its character and distinctive traits really come through. That’s when I realised this was yet another of those underrated distilleries, it might well be worth keeping an eye out for its independent bottlings. Here, the price is a bit on the high side, but there’s no doubt we’ll find something to our liking among their more recent releases. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                              Shye - If Today Was Yesterday

Glen Garioch 1992 Macbeth The Thanes Series Angus 31 yo

 

 

 

54,6°

Distillery : Glen Garioch - Highlands

4 American Oak 1st Fill Bourbon Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Scottish designer Lexi Livingstone Burgess came up with the idea for this series, which will total 42 bottlings when they are all released in 2025. The aim of this crazy project is to create a bottling for each character in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Elixir Distillers took up the challenge, supplied the distillates and bottled them. The part launched in 2023, that means 9 expressions, illustrates the characters of the first act. This 31-year-old Glen Garioch, blended from 4 Bourbon casks, corresponds to the character of Angus, a Thane of Scotland, in other words, a lord. The label is illustrated by Sir Quentin Blake, and the tasting notes are written in rhyme by Dave Broom. 600 bottles are on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fruit and a lovely, fresh lightness. Yellow plums, apricots, vanilla, a hint of cinnamon, a pinch of icing sugar. The fruit is almost candied. Cereals in the background, an air reminiscent of the countryside, cut hay, dry straw. On the palate, quite pastry-like, the vanilla is creamier, with honey and clove. Nutmeg, pepper. Vague meaty hints. Long, well-crafted finish, but not dantesque either. Still fruits, warm chestnuts, forest undergrowth, oak leaves. Acorns, hazelnuts.

 

In Short, 

Not bad at all, and even close to excellent. The Bourbon is quite intense, and gives a lovely honeyed colour to the whole, without hiding the finesse of the distillate. It's a success, although I don't really see the connection with Angus's character, but that's another story. The price makes you shudder, and it's obvious that I wouldn't buy this one if I had the means to spend so much money on a bottle. But everyone has their own addictions.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           MorMor - Heaven's Only Wishful

Glen Garioch 1992 Artist #13 Over 30 yo

 

 

 

57,9°

Disitllery : Glen Garioch - Highlands

Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchilliltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Slightly Peated

 

 

 

Glen Garioch is a distillery not far from Speyside, but still in the Highlands. Opened in 1797, it is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. It is now owned by Beam Suntory, along with Bowmore, Ardmore and Laphroaig. Few single malt bottlings leave its walls, so it's always worth picking up a dram. Here we have a 30-year-old one, aged in a Hogshead by Taiwanese independent bottler Hua Yang, founded in 2008. Hua Yang has given his finest gems to La Maison du Whisky, in order to build the new batch of the Artist range, subtitled Spirits Shop Selection, which will be sold as part of the New Vibrations collection. This was followed by a limited edition of 227 bottles decorated with the work Singed Sierra by Wang Yung Chiu, and that gave me the opportunity to discover a new distillery.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Floral nose, with pronounced fruits, ripe mirabelle plums and greengages, apricots and quinces. Lilac and hyacinth dominate, with some earthy hints in the background. It's waxy, honeyed and very slightly camphorated. I don't smell any peat. On the palate, orchard fruits come to the fore, Conference pears, yellow apples, a zest of lemon and lovely spices, nutmeg, benzoin, cumin. The finish is quite long, full of energy, hazelnut and chickpea seeds, whole almonds and earth with bits of orange. Perhaps a pinch of peat on this finish.

 

In Short, 

I really liked the nose, which I found to be very floral and fruity, with character. The rest is up to scratch without being overwhelming. As for the peat, there must be 4 or 5 ppm of it, no more, just enough to give the whole some depth. A great opportunity to showcase this too little-known distillery. Obviously, the very high price is a brake on the thirst for knowledge.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Slow Blow Fuse - The Bottle